From jail, 'Hat Bandit' suspect says he's not a bank robber

James Madison during the Community Fun Day 2007 at the Christian Love Baptist Church on July 14.

James Madison, the man authorities suspect of being the "Hat Bandit," professed his innocence today and called the accusations against him "a case of mistaken identity."

In a brief jailhouse interview with The Star-Ledger this afternoon, Madison calmly insisted he is innocent of all 18 robberies for which authorities say he is the prime suspect. "I don't rob people," Madison said. "I don't wear hats."

Madison, 50, of Maplewood, is being held at the Passaic County Jail in Paterson.

In the interview, Madison acknowledged his violent past - he spent 18 years in prison for killing his girlfriend in 1986. But, he said, he is "not a robber" and has "never had a weapon."

Madison said that on Sunday, the day of the most recent robbery, he was at the same Pathmark supermarket in Union Township where the heist occurred but was not involved. He said he bought a 10-pack of soda, and as he left, someone saw him getting in his car and mistook him for the robber. The robbery occurred at a Bank of America branch inside the supermarket.

The car, a black Nissan Altima that belongs to Madison's girlfriend, was having axle trouble Sunday morning, so Madison took it to a garage to have it repaired before going to the store, he said.

Madison spoke in a raspy voice, the aftereffects of a motor bike accident in the eighth grade that left him with a broken neck. He received a civil settlement after the accident, but plunged into drug addiction. Prosecutors later cited his cocaine habit as a contributing factor in Madison's 1986 killing of Terry Lee Wells, 25.

In 1987, Madison admitted beating her to death after an argument, folding her body into a suitcase and dumping her body in the Passaic River. As he discussed the killing today, Madison cast his eyes down and lowered his voice.

"That was the biggest mistake I ever made," he said. He said he thought Wells was lunging at him with a knife, so he grabbed a lamp and clubbed her over the head. He said he considered calling police, but put down the phone and decided to try to conceal the crime.

"I panicked," he said.

During the 15-minute prison interview, Madison smiled only twice -- both times discussing the extensive media coverage given to the serial bandit.